Kallie Huffman sees ballet as freedom

Kallie Huffman dances in Bristol Ballet's production of "The Nutcracker."

By Leslie Grace | A! Magazine for the Arts | January 31, 2017

Kallie Huffman sees ballet as "freedom."

"What interests me most about ballet is the fact that you can be yourself and put your own style on every dance. One of my teachers, Mrs. Pat Holden, told our company class that her goal is not just for us to be technically sound dancers but for us to do every combination and every dance and own it and have the attitude of "this is my dance. I own this dance.' My goal is to make every dance my dance.

"When you dance, it's almost like you put your signature on it. You leave your mark on every dance you do. Ballet means freedom. When I dance, I like to dance with my own type of style. When I'm on stage, I like to dance all of my dances like they could be my last," Kallie says.

She has been dancing with the Bristol Ballet since she was 4. "I told my mom I wanted to do ballet, and she took me to Bristol Ballet because that's where she danced. Since then I have danced with Bristol Ballet." She is now a third-year senior company dancer and recently won the company's Teresangela Schiano Memorial Scholarship Recipient.

When Kallie won the scholarship, Beth Barnette, junior/senior company instructor, said, "Kallie is such a powerhouse and has a natural performance quality that draws your eye to her on stage."

The Teresangela Schiano Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to dancers at the intermediate/advanced level of ballet who are also part of Bristol Ballet's performing company. The chosen dancer must be active in performing and exhibit skill and dedication to excellence. The scholarship provides for all fees for the 2016/2017 season.

"One of many other highlights this year would be performing as Dew Drop in this year's "Nutcracker.' I have been in many Bristol Ballet productions but just a few of them would be "Jewels,' "Cirque de Ballet,' "Celtic Flair,' "Unbroken Circle' and many other originals.

"I have been in the "Nutcracker,' "Coppelia,' "Cinderella' and "Snow White.' I really enjoyed performing my role of Spanish lead this year in "Nutcracker,' and I enjoyed performing Dew Drop very much. My favorite ballets are probably "Jewels,' "Cirque de Ballet' and "Celtic Flair.'"

Kallie plans to go to college and study exercise science and minor in business. She hopes to go on to become a physical therapist and work with all types of patients, but specifically athletes. She'd like to "help recovering athletes get back to doing the sports they love and be good as new," she says.

She attends Virginia High School, where she is a junior. When she isn't dancing, she's the treasurer of the Future Business Leaders of America Club, the president of the Interact Club, a member of the history club and a member of the yearbook club.

Kallie is the 16-year-old daughter of Dennis and Jan Huffman and lives in Bristol, Virginia.